Preserving the centuries old craft of Neapolitan Pizza

There isn’t a place in the world where pizza is more ingrained in the culture than Naples.
It is, after all, where pizza was born. That includes firing your pizza in a wood-burning oven
to a blistering 900 degrees. Punch utilizes the same centuries-old techniques that Neapolitan
masters use to create a truly authentic pizza. The world’s finest crushed tomatoes, fresh
mozzarella, and top-secret dough form the foundation of the pizza, but the true craft is in
mastering the wood fired oven.

Trianon in Naples – one of our favorites.

Postcard of Queen Margherita from Pizzaria Brandi.

History of the Craft

Vera Pizza Napoletana

This elite organization, better known as the pizza poliza, maintains rules to
ensure the authenticity of Neapolitan pizza; dough must be rolled out and shaped by
hand. Also, pizzerias that belong to this organization must use wood-burning,
bell-shaped brick ovens.

Pizzaioli - Highly Skilled, Highly Trained, Highly Loved

The literal translation means "maker of pizza," but that’s hardly an apt description.
In Naples, they are true artisans, with years of apprentiship required. At Punch, only
those with true grit get a shot at the oven, which can be both mentally and physically challenging.
Lose focus and you’ll burn a pizza in seconds.